Toronto is a very diverse, and multi-cultural city. When I first came to this city there were programs and communities open and accepting. I found that there were many opportunities for me to express myself and voice out my opinions through youth groups and clubs. As a young female, I found that dress codes and rules were less restrictive here than back home. I was born in the Philippines and lived there for about eleven years, I went to an all girls’ catholic school. So, I found it shocking and also quite liberating to not have anyone shout at me for having my skirt too short (five inches below the knee, no less).
The opportunities here were neverending, I did have opportunities back in the Philippines, however they were not as bountiful as opportunities here. I joined a youth group last year, where we tackled social issues such as racism, bullying, sexism etc.. We got the chance to present the issues of our community at City Hall, and host a community clean-up.
Although, as a youth, a female, and an immigrant: Toronto still has its negatives. One day me and my mother were walking home after buying our groceries, a old, caucasian man came up to us and said. “You know, in Ottawa there are more jobs and more space for people like you.” There was an obvious air of hostility an distaste in his voice, trying to say that we should go back to where we belong, because we didn’t belong here in Toronto. Keeping in mind, the name, Toronto, originally Tkaronto, meant, “where there are trees standing in the water,” a phrase used by the Mohawk.
I am feminist. I believe in equality. Quite a few number of people do not define themselves as feminists, as they assume they are immedeately pro-misandry once they identify as one. To advocate for feminism means to advocate for equality, it is called that because the society we live in today is still quite patriarchal. I had a few peers and classmates assuming that I drink the tears and blood of men for breakfast, that I was radical and would kill anything with testosterone. I had to explain what the word meant and why I advocate for equal rights.
This year in Toronto, the elections were announced and took place. There were reports of racism and sexism towards the female candidates. A cartoon published by The Toronto Sun, depicted Olivia Chow dressed as Mao Zedung, founding father of the People’s Rebublic of China, on a skateboard holding a coat with the name Jack Layton printed on it. It doesn’t take much to infer what the implied meaning is. In Ward 2, Munira Abukar ran for city council, her campaign posters were defaced with phrases such as, “Go back home” and other abusive words. Abukar stated that she was angry and upset at first, but now realizes the importance of staying positive.
Obviously not everyone in the city of Toronto advocates for this type of violent and apalling behaviour. I’m sure there are people who want this to end and will do what they can to help stop it. Toronto is a great city, it’s a beautiful place, life here is full of opportunities and welcoming communities, but there are still things that all of us could do to make it better. In grade eight we were told to memorize article 15 of The Charter of Rights and Freedom, where it says, “15. Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.” I think we should keep that in mind, and not just for the sake of not failing a test.
By: Kara Ruiz Austria
